Is it ok to just wing it?

[Shelsi]

I keep reading all these threads about different methods (Charlotte Mason, classical, etc) and I honestly haven't read anything about the different methods. Am I the only one? Am I going about this wrong? I just put together a curriculum based on things I think would interest ds (sing, spell, read, and write for example because he loves music).

I am just starting to feel like I'm behind the curve or something.

[Oriole]

I don't think you are alone.

I do think that it's interesting to see what different programs have to offer, as you are bound to like some ideas and have an "aha! I didn't think of that!" moments, if you do some research. At the same time, I totally see the point of compiling things on your own. Don't stress.

[Reebekah]

i felt like you a few months ago....everyone was talking about various methods, and i am just kind of doing my thing while making sure that i cover all bases.......so then i took the time to do some internet research, read a few books, etc, on the different methods....and ultimately, i agree with a little bit of this and a little bit of that....although i now know the difference between the different methods, i dont agree with any ONE of them enough to stop doing the variety of things that work for us....and what i AM doing falls into several categories (unit-based, classical, a little c.mason, etc)......so i guess i'll just call myself "eclectic" and be done with it ;o)

[Lillian J]

No, you're not behind a curve - you're just not part of a fairly recent trend - I don't think you're going about it wrong at all. It will be your and your children's "method"! When I homeschooled, people I knew were just following their own flexible and evolving paths - driven by their own children's individual needs and personal leanings, as well as the interests of the family as a whole. Those children grew into happy adults with their own unique plans and careers, all having gone through various levels of higher education that filled their needs. You might find some interesting ideas among various schools of thought, but I think keeping it simple is to your children's advantage. - Lillian

[craft_media_hero]

Yes, it is definitely okay to just wing it.

We are wingers, too. We draw from lots of methods, but we don't have a put-together curriculum. I think it's great! So flexible for what you/your kid need and want.

[RiverSky]

Yes, totally okay to wing it, you are not wrong at all. In our inclusive homeschool group, most families wing it and just a few describe themselves as following one method or another.

If anyone asks, just say you do "eclectic homeschooling", if you find it will be easier to explain that way.

[lach]

I think that's what eclectic homeschooling is

I think that when people do have a specific philosophy that they follow, they find it helpful to mention that when they post questions here. Even though there's a range of how closely people follow a certain method, or even how they interpret a certain method, it provides a convenient shorthand (one or two words) to describe what their family is like. It also is helpful to people who might be responding to the question.

But I think this presents kind of a skewed sample, because I think that people who adamantly don't follow a specific philosophy don't have an easy shorthand way to say that, so they don't. And I think that most eclectic homeschoolers are interested in various different ways of homeschooling, and try to educate themselves on various different philosophies, and pick and choose what works for them. So then they answer questions with an suggestion that's seeped in the philosophy, or maybe even follow some parts. For example, many people who don't consider themselves classical homeschoolers in the least still follow the 4 year history rotation, and many people who don't follow Charlotte Mason still take a CM-inspired view of nature study, and many people who don't consider themselves Waldorf homeschoolers at all maintain a nature table and have taken some of the rituals and festivals for their own. So you get a thread about one of these things, and a lot of people respond enthusiastically, even though many of them would consider themselves Eclectic Homeschoolers.

Sorry that was a long explanation. I just think it's easy to see a kind of skewed sample on message boards sometimes. I think most of us just pick from a wide variety of sources what works for our family.

[lach]

I also wanted to say that sometimes it seems like we go through trends on this board. Like, I swear there weren't any posts about Classical homeschooling for MONTHS... and then suddenly every other post for a few weeks was about Classical homeschooling. I was like, "wait, when did everyone on Mothering turn into a Classical homeschooler?" Then I think the board was really in a huge Charlotte Mason trend for a while, which I think might be slowing down again. And I'm not saying there weren't families following these things all along, it just seems to me that sometimes this board goes through a week or two where there are clusters of specific types of posts, and I think there have been a ton recently.

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by lach

I think that when people do have a specific philosophy that they follow, they find it helpful to mention that when they post questions here. Even though there's a range of how closely people follow a certain method, or even how they interpret a certain method, it provides a convenient shorthand (one or two words) to describe what their family is like. It also is helpful to people who might be responding to the question.

This is certainly how it is for our family. We're "CM/WTM inspired" in the same way the typical movie adaptation is "inspired by" the book But saying that's what we do helps me connect with similarly-minded people and resources.

The method is just a roadmap. Some people need or want maps more than others. Personally, I totally winged it last year, and felt very disorganized, so this year I felt having the roadmap would be helpful. We disregard it to a large extent, but I still feel it's helpful for knowing where we want to be going long-term.

And really, people following a classical method are generally "winging it" to a greater or lesser extent too. The method may influence curriculum choices and how they're implemented, but, unless they've bought an all-inclusive curriculum, people using a "method" are still picking and choosing from the same resources as everyone else, as the methods don't tend to dictate the exact resources to be used. And many use the parts of the method that work well for them, and change or ignore the rest.

So, don't feel you're wrong for "winging it". Do what works for you. If it isn't working, try something else - and know that's exactly how everyone else is doing (well, assuming they're not driving themselves nuts trying to follow something that doesn't work for them!).

[MaWhit]

Eh, I've read all the stuff and decided to just wing it anyway.

[kittie313]

Of course its fine. Just because following a certain philosophy or curriculum works for others doesn't mean that you have to do it. Be unique, be creative. Use what works for you, not what others say you should use.

[mommy68]

I just make sure I cover all core subjects. I don't use one particular curriculum either. I'd get bored with that and I know my youngest child would.

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by Shelsi

Is it ok to just wing it?

I sure hope so, because that's what we've been doing for ten years!

Works for us.

Miranda

[nov05mama]

Originally Posted by craft_media_hero

We are wingers, too. We draw from lots of methods, but we don't have a put-together curriculum. I think it's great! So flexible for what you/your kid need and want.

Ditto. I actually pull from many different methods and really consider myself eclectic. I don't like going all ONE method...not that there is anything wrong with doing so...it just doesn't work best for our family...so I just find the stuff that does

[mom2ponygirl]

We just wing it. I like reading a little about different philosophies and methods. It helps generate ideas but I don't use what I read as something we have to follow.

Usually I say we are eclectic, but I personally prefer calling what we do cafeteria schooling. We take what we like and leave the rest!

[SandyBeachBums]

Originally Posted by moominmamma

I sure hope so, because that's what we've been doing for ten years!

Works for us.

Miranda

As always, Miranda and her family are inspiring!

We wing it, too. I do love to read, so I've read a lot of books. I even bought the new TWTM. But, honestly I use what works. And, I love stuff I can use again. We started off with no curriculum. Just lots of library books and fun stuff. But, we have morphed throughout the years into what we are now. It's working, so I think it's a good method.

[Ruthla]

We pretty much "wing it" also. I'm not quite an unschooler (although I strongly lean that way) but we don't spend a whole lot of time on formal academics and we don't even have much in the way of curriculum materials! Just a math workbook, handwriting workbook (which we haven't yet started), the public library and the internet (oh, and our private library that's grown slowly over time, mostly from thrift stores.)

[lizabird]

I always imagined I would be a very organized homeschooler, having lots of ideas, books, projects, etc. Honestly, my kids would rather just play. So we play a LOT, do a little cooking, have a few regular weekly activities out and about with other people, do a few random lessons here and there as it seems appropriate (when we made cookies to sell, we talked about math and money, how much he'd make if we sold all the cookes, or half the cookies, etc.). Mostly what works now for us is focused on the HERE and NOW. Abstract ideas just don't work well for us yet. My kids are still very young, 3 and 6, and I find myself being what I'd consider an "eclectic unschooler". My DH is really wanting more structure, things the 6 yr old needs to know how to read by now and recognize his letters up to 100. Unfortunately, my 6 yr old has zero interest in learning to read and write, but he does LOVE listening to stories. I'm sure when he's ready, he'll soak it all in, but for now, if we try anything at all that seems to rigid or formal, he totally shuts down and becomes mopey and sullen and we get nowhere.

So, no, I don't think you need a specific curriculum. That seems to work fine for some people, not so for others.

[dawningmama]

We do a lot of winging around here. I'm especially fond of the "strewing method" where I get as many books out of the library as we can carry and then just strew them around the living room in hopes that they will catch the eye of a child ready to sit and read for a spell. Totally works.

I have a vague plan of attack and we do use workbooks that we work through in order but we skip a lot and supplement. I'm an unschooler at heart but I have kids who enjoy a little bit of structure so this works for us. I have been known to borrow from several different schools of thought (Core Knowledge, Charlotte Mason, etc) and modify them to suit our needs.

[elizawill]

we wing it too...going through day by day & week by week....figuring things out as we go along. i wish i had a plan for the next 5 years though. that would rock.